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Aging

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A friend recently said that when looking around, he is beginning to notice that people are not aging well. Surprisingly, health data and research validate his casual observation, clearly showing that modern lifestyles are actively contributing to accelerated aging. This trend is not entirely new; even upon graduating from high school in the late 70s, a paradigm shift in children's health became very apparent to me. Kids were becoming less active, eating unhealthy foods, and gaining weight. Consequently, what my friend observed is the continuation of a trajectory that began in the early 80s.  Today, this scenario has evolved into a health crisis that has dangerous consequences to our health, relationships, and economic future. The rising obesity rates originating in the 80s—compounded by inactivity and poor dietary choices—have caused widespread mental and physiological dysfunction, compromised cardiovascular systems, and confused our immune responses. Fundamentally, this decline a...
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Unit 731

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Recently, I was watching a Chinese movie named Fist of Fury. The film references Japanese experiments conducted on human subjects. Hoping to learn more, I began reading viewer reviews, one of which mentioned "Unit 731"—a reference that confirmed the historical reality of these Japanese human experiments. The fact remains that Unit 731 was a covert biological and chemical warfare research unit of the Japanese Imperial Army that performed human experimentation during the Sino-Japanese War and World War II. This operation from 1936 to 1945 was disguised as an epidemic prevention and water purification department. It subjected thousands of prisoners—primarily Chinese, Soviet, and Korean civilians—to horrific medical atrocities. These experiments included vivisections without anesthesia and intentional infections with pathogens such as anthrax, cholera, and bubonic plague. Furthermore, Unit 731 developed and dropped plague-infected fleas and contaminated food and water supplies ...
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Slice of Thai Culture

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I recently finished reading the book Thailand Fever by Chris Pirazzi and Vitida Vassant, which a friend recommended several years ago to help me better understand Thai culture. After reading the first chapter, I realized how little I understood about the culture, despite having traveled to Thailand many times.  The opening chapter explores the concepts of superiority and inferiority, highlighting the deep-seated role of hierarchy in Thai society. While I understand basic human behaviors, internalizing this strict social hierarchy remains difficult for me to digest. I find the idea of viewing others as superior or inferior is inherently problematic. However, Hierarchy seems to play a foundational role in shaping social interactions and daily life in Thailand. While there’s a tilt by the younger generations towards a more egalitarian future, traditional expectations remain deeply embedded in the institutions. On the edges of hierarchy lies the concept of freedom and independence. W...
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